Method of separating minerals.



No. 855,895. PATBNTED JUNE 4, 1907. A. F. KIRSGHNER.

METHOD OF SBPARATING MINERALS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 17, 1907.

- INVENTOR with):

Q By

Afforkeys VVJTNESSES ADOLPHE F. KIRSCHNER, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METHOD OF SEPARATING MINERALS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 4, 1907.

Application filed January 17, 190 7. Serial No. 352,769.

To all whom, it may concern: Be it known that I, ADOLPHE F. KrRsoH- NER, a subject of the Emperor of Austria, r'esiding at Pittsburg, in the county of Alle- 5 gheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Separating Minerals, of which the following is a specification, reference be; ing had therein to ing.

This inventionrelates to electro-magnetic separation of minerals, and its object is to effect the separation by the aid of electromagnetism of certain grades of ores which lave not heretofore been so separated.

Heretofore differentcharacters of ore have been separated from each other or from gang, in a variety of ways, as for example by the chemical process (amalgamation, smelting,

etc) mechanically by hand, or by machinery,

with or without the aid of water according to specific gravity; or by ,electro-magnets according to the magnetic permeability of the minerals.

It is to the last-named method to which the present invention relates, and before specifically describing the novel method to be hereinafter claimed, the following general statement with 'respect to'the prior art and the character of ores is made with the view of rendering the new method the more readily understood. Permeability or magnetic conductivity I call the property of matter to become influenced by a magnet. The permeability of minerals depends largely upon their chemical composition, and varies within vast limits in an unknown proportion relative to the same. -VVith the view to magnetic separation all matter may be divided into three general classes, to wit: first, diamagnetic matter, which under ordinary or general conditions cannot be influenced by an electrO-magnet. Second, paramagnetic matter which is readily influenced by an electro magnet, and third, ferromagnetic matter which is also influenced by a permanentmagnet. T he permeability of diamag' netic matter is less, or equal to that of atmospheric air; the permeability of paramagnetic matter is higher or greater than that of atmospheric air; and the permeability of ferrmmagnetic matter is considerably higher than that of atmospheric air. Hereto ore many magnetic ore separators have succ ssfully treated. ferromagnetic matter, and'by the accompanying draW-.

the aid of auxiliary processes, as calcinations, close sizing, etc. have also treated paramagnetic substances with more or less success,

but no result it is believed has heretofore been accomplished with diamagnetic matter, and for the obvious reason that matter of the same, or lower permeability than the medium in which it is suspended cannot be magnetically influenced.

The present invention is based upon the theory that if the permeability of the medium in which the diamagnetic matter is suspended, is decreased the latter can be influenced magnetically, and I have discovered by exeriment that some gases are appreciably ess permeable than atmospheric air. These gases are diamagnetic.

The improved method consists-in inclosing a magnetic field in an air-tight manner in any suitable receptacle and filling the latter with diamagnetic gas. Substances which could not be influenced in the most concentrated field in atmospheric air are readily influenced when suspended in this diamagnetic gas. I

The accomp nying drawing illustrates an apparatus by the aid of which the method may be practiced. The said drawing illustrates diagrammatically, a chamber or receptacle sealed against atmospheric air by the ore, also illustrating a gasgenerator communicating with the chamber for supplying a gaseous medium tosaid chamber. The practice of the invention is, however, by no means confined to the type of apparatus herein shown.

In the practice of the invention, I provide a shell or casing 1, of any desired form, into which ore is fed from a suitable hopper H.

It is preferable, though not essential, that the shell or casing be formed with two chutes 3,- 3, the former receiving the magnetic particles or concentrates, and the latter receiving the non-magnetic particles, ,each controlled by a gate 4, which gate may be manually operated, or automatically operated, by the weight of the ore upon the same. Suitably mounted Within the shell ()IiJr fllSing 1 is a pair of magnets M, M, and arranged to travel over the magnets M isan endless conveyer as shown. The ore within the hopper H apd chutes 3, 3, is adapted to seal the interior of the shell or casing 1, and to provide thereb an air-tight compartment into which gas is orced from the gas generator suitably IIO located with respect to the shell or casing 1 and communicating with the interior of said of the magnetic particles these falling into chute 3, while the non-magnetic particles fall into chute 3.

Two magnets are used in order to provide a larger magnetic field for the material to pass through than would be afforded with the use of but one magnet. Furthermore, if but one magnet was used, the magnetic rays would be diffused in all directions, whereas, by employing two magnets and locating the same opposite each other, the magnetic rays will be substantially confined between the magnets. The ore as it leaves the be per H falls upon an inclined projectin -p ate P causing it to be projected toward an onto the endless oonveyer. As the endless conveyer travels over magnet M in the direction shown by the arrow,-the magnetic particles have a tendency to adhere thereto until they have been carried out of the field of attraction, when they drop by gravity into the chute A.

As heretofore stated, the invention is particularly adapted, though not confined in its use, to the treatment of diamagnetic mat ter, such as oo per, lead and zinc ores, having a permeabi ity equal to or less than that of atmospheric air, By suspending this diamagnetic matter in an air-tight chamber charged with diamagnetic gas or other fluid of lower permeability than atmospheric air, the diamagnetic matter will be readily influenced by the magnet.- This will be evident when it is remembered that the permeability of diamagnetic matter is the same or less than atmospheric air, and consequently can not be magnetically influenced in atmospheric air, or, in other words, matter of the same or lower permeability than the medium in which it is suspended, can not be magnetically infiuenced. When, however, the medium in which the matter is suspended has its permeability decreased materially below the 'ermeability of the matter to be magneticall g influenced, the reason forfailure of the -matter to be magnetically influenced has been removed, and the material or matter is readily influenced by the magnetic action.

The utility and value of this new method of separating minerals will be readily-appre-- method.

Whilel have herein referred to a gas as the medium for decreasing or reducing the permeability of the mecliuni in which the diamagnetic matter is tobe separated is suspended. yet I wish it to be understood thatI .1

ave employed this term in its generic sense,

meanin thereby any'gas or fluid by means of which sus en'sron. .me d1um for t e ores 1s effected.

' he improved method or process can be the decreased permeability of the employed in connect-ion with any practical ore separator at small expense, andthe operating expenses need be only slightly increased.

What I claim and desire td secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The herein described rating minerals from thein ores, which con sists in suspending the ore within an airtight space charged with a 'gaseous medium having lower permeability than atmospheric air, and subjecting the ore while in suspen- .sion within said charged space to electromagnetic action. v t l 2. The herein described process for separating minerals from their ores, which consists in charging an air-tight chamberwith a gaseous medium having a lower ermeability than atmospheric air, suspen ing the ore within the charged chamber, and sub'ecting the orewhile in suspension to electr -magnetic action. 1

method of sepa- 3. The herein described process for sepa rating minerals fromtheir ores, which con sists in maintaining the ores in suspension within a chamber sealed from the atmos phere, charging the said chamber with a gaseous vmediumhaving lower permeability than atmospheric air, and subjecting theore while in suspension in said medium tofelecf tro-magnetic action.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature,

in the'presence of two witnesses.

ADOLPHE 'F. KIRSCHNER. Witnesses:

MAX H.-SRoL'ov-rrz,

A. J, TRIGG. 

